At an election rally in Rangpur’s Badarganj upazila on Wednesday evening, Jamaat-e-Islami’s Nayeb-e-Ameer and Rangpur-2 constituency candidate ATM Azharul Islam alleged that the Awami League government had arranged false witnesses through its own tribunal to sentence him to death. He said divine mercy and public support helped him regain freedom after years of imprisonment, asserting that no one can harm those protected by God.

Azharul Islam stated that he was too young to fight in 1971 but was falsely branded a war criminal because of his advocacy for Islam. He claimed witnesses in his trial gave contradictory testimonies, saying they saw alleged killings from distances of three to nine kilometers. According to him, the tribunal’s fabricated evidence led to his 14-year imprisonment and torture.

He further alleged that after his release, some witnesses admitted they were pressured and enticed by the Awami League government to testify falsely. Urging voters to reject corruption, he called for support for the 11-party alliance’s “scales” symbol and a “yes” vote in the upcoming referendum on February 12.

The election field in Pabna-1 constituency has grown increasingly heated following the allocation of symbols for the upcoming national election. Tensions escalated further after former state minister and Awami League leader Professor Abu Sayeed joined the BNP, withdrawing his independent candidacy and pledging full support to BNP candidate Shamsur Rahman.

Jamaat-e-Islami’s candidate Barrister Najibur Rahman Momen, son of the late party chief Matiur Rahman Nizami, accused the BNP of conspiring to restore fascism by bringing Abu Sayeed into the party. He warned that such activities would be resisted. After receiving his election symbol, Momen alleged that BNP was attempting to disrupt the electoral environment and cautioned that administrative inaction could provoke public outrage.

BNP candidate Shamsur Rahman rejected the allegations, stating that Abu Sayeed was not fascist and had long distanced himself from such politics. He said Abu Sayeed joined BNP through a proper process, strengthening the party’s position in the constituency.

Asif Mahmud, chairman of the NCP Election Steering Committee, warned that any attempt to seize polling centers by force would be met with counter-resistance. Speaking on Wednesday at a public rally during the NCP’s election march at the Shaheed Minar grounds in Sarail, Brahmanbaria, he said the party would also resist attacks on women and uphold justice in future governance.

Mahmud highlighted Brahmanbaria’s history of participation in democratic movements from the anti-British struggle to the July uprising. He criticized the current government for failing to deliver development in the district and pledged that the Eleven-Party Alliance would ensure fair budget allocations for all regions if it came to power. He also mentioned that more than 30 alliance activists were injured in an attack on their candidate in Sherpur.

At the same event, alliance candidate Maulana Ashraf Uddin vowed to establish a just Bangladesh, ensure transparency in governance, and resist foreign dominance if elected.

Palestinian-supporting US Representative Ilhan Omar was attacked during a town hall meeting in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Tuesday. According to Reuters, an unidentified man sprayed an unknown dark-colored liquid on her while she was calling for the abolition of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency. Police arrested the assailant on third-degree assault charges. Authorities have not yet disclosed details about the substance used, though Omar was not injured.

C-SPAN footage showed the attacker rushing the stage as Omar demanded the resignation of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. Omar later said the liquid had a terrible smell but confirmed she was fine and planned to undergo a medical checkup. Returning to the stage, she reaffirmed her resilience, saying Minnesota remained strong despite such acts. She also posted on X that she would not be intimidated.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Republican Representative Nancy Mace condemned the attack, emphasizing that violence has no place in political discourse. Omar, a Somali-American and former refugee, has long faced opposition from conservatives for her progressive stances on immigration and criticism of Israel’s actions in Gaza.

South Africa defeated West Indies by nine wickets in the first match of their three-game T20 series. The match, held on Wednesday, saw South Africa chase down a target of 174 runs with 13 balls to spare. Aiden Markram led the hosts with an unbeaten 86 off 47 balls, featuring nine fours and three sixes. Reeza Hendricks contributed 44 runs from 28 balls, while Ryan Rickelton added 40 not out. George Linde was named Player of the Match for taking three wickets for 25 runs.

Batting first after losing the toss, West Indies posted 173 for seven in 20 overs. Despite a 39-run opening stand, they lost quick wickets and were reduced to 95 for five. Shimron Hetmyer scored 48 and Rovman Powell remained unbeaten on 29, helping their side reach a competitive total. For South Africa, Linde and Bosch shared five wickets between them.

With this victory, South Africa took a 1–0 lead in the three-match series. The second T20 is scheduled to be played in Centurion on Thursday.

A team from the Detective Branch (DB) police detained eight young men from a flat in the Ghop Boubazar area of Jashore town and took them to Dhaka. The operation took place on Tuesday afternoon in a three-storey building named 'Amar Bari'. Local residents said plainclothes law enforcement officers had been seen in the area since morning, and the joint operation by DB and Jashore police began around 3 p.m. The identities of the detainees and the reasons for their arrest remain unknown.

According to the building’s caretaker, police conducted a lengthy search in a second-floor flat before detaining the eight individuals. The building owner, Nazim Uddin from Dhaka, said the group had rented the flat about six months earlier, identifying themselves as freelancers who had set up an office there. He claimed not to know their names or further details. Jashore Kotwali Police Inspector (Investigation) Kazi Babul confirmed that a special DB team from headquarters led the operation, with local police providing assistance.

Police officials stated that the purpose of the arrests was not disclosed to Jashore police, describing the event as a special operation.

The government has initiated a direct purchase (DPM) process to procure coal for the RPCL-Norinco power plant in Patuakhali, aiming to start commercial operation quickly. Officials said the move seeks to bypass prolonged tender delays that have kept the 1,320-megawatt plant idle since its test run in April last year. The project, built with $2.54 billion including $1.77 billion in Chinese loans, faces repayment pressure from lenders as coal shortages prevent full operation.

Sector experts and senior Supreme Court lawyers have criticized the decision, calling it a violation of a High Court ruling that upheld a Singapore-based company’s right to supply coal after multiple tenders were canceled. They argue the government’s direct purchase plan exceeds its authority and could create long-term complications. The RPCL board has also approved emergency coal procurement from the EPC contractor consortium and plans to send a committee to Indonesia to identify potential mines.

Experts warn that bypassing competitive tenders and relying on EPC contractors for coal could increase project costs, deepen dependency on imports, and further delay stable power generation.

A four-year-old boy named Md. Mezbaha has gone missing after falling into a deep tube well hole in Raozan, Chattogram. The incident occurred around 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday at Barua Para in Ward 9 of Kadolpur Union. Fire service and police teams have launched a rescue operation, but the child has not yet been found. Witnesses said Mezbaha fell into a narrow pipe-shaped hole while playing in a field, and his cries were heard before he slipped deeper into the hole during the rescue attempt.

Local residents reported that the hole had been left open for about a year after being dug for a government project. They estimated its depth to be between 40 and 50 feet. Raozan Police Station Officer-in-Charge SM Sajedul Islam confirmed that police and fire service teams were working together to rescue the child.

The report also noted a similar recent incident in Tanore, Rajshahi, where a two-year-old child died after falling into a deep tube well hole.

A video from BNP Chairperson Tareq Rahman’s election rally in Mymensingh has gone viral on social media, showing Rahman seated on a chair while Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) president Rakibul Islam Rakib sits near his feet. Following widespread criticism online, Rakib posted the full video and an explanation on his Facebook page on Wednesday.

In his post, Rakib stated that Tareq Rahman personally called him to sit beside him during the rally on January 27. Because he was wearing sneakers, he found it difficult to sit properly, and at the suggestion of another BNP leader, he sat in front of Rahman with permission. Rakib said the circulated clip was edited to create a misleading narrative.

Rakib added that he felt honored to be invited to sit beside the BNP chairperson despite the presence of senior leaders. He urged supporters to remain patient and work toward implementing Rahman’s vision, noting that the BNP leader had returned to the country only a month earlier.

U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, warned Iran that “time is running out” and that the next attack would be “much worse.” In a lengthy post on Truth Social, he urged Tehran to quickly reach a deal, reiterating that a large U.S. naval fleet led by the aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln was moving toward Iran. Trump described the fleet as advancing with speed, strength, and purpose, claiming it was larger than the one previously sent to Venezuela.

Trump cautioned that the fleet was ready to use force if necessary to achieve its objectives. He called on Iran to negotiate a “fair and just” agreement that would ensure the absence of nuclear weapons and benefit all parties. He also referenced a previous operation, “Midnight Hammer,” which he said had caused significant damage to Iran, warning that the next strike would be worse.

The report noted that Trump gave mixed signals about possible U.S. intervention following Iran’s crackdown on protests and internet shutdowns. It also recalled Washington’s involvement in a June conflict supporting Israel’s 12-day war aimed at weakening Iran’s nuclear and missile programs.

A fire broke out at a vegetable market in Sector 11 of Uttara, Dhaka, on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, at 5:38 p.m. According to Fire Service duty officer Rakib Hasan, the blaze was brought under control by 6:08 p.m. with the efforts of five fire service units. No casualties have been reported so far.

Rakib Hasan stated that the extent of the damage has not yet been determined as the final report is pending. The cause of the fire was not mentioned in the initial information provided. The incident follows a previous fire on January 16 in a six-story residential building in Uttara that resulted in six deaths.

Authorities are expected to assess the losses once the final report is completed, while the absence of injuries or fatalities in this case marks a relief compared to the earlier residential fire in the same area.

Bangladesh Medical University (BMU) and the government’s Aspire to Innovate (a2i) program signed a memorandum of understanding at the university’s Shaheed Dr. Milton Hall on Wednesday. The agreement aims to implement paperless administrative operations at BMU and enhance healthcare services through the use of information and communication technology.

Under the MoU, BMU will introduce a digital payment system to make financial transactions related to medical services, education, and research more transparent and efficient. The university’s service fees and bills will be integrated with a2i’s ‘EkPay’ platform, enabling payments through mobile financial services, digital wallets, online banking, debit and credit cards, and agent banking. The initiative is expected to reduce manual hassles and promote a cashless environment across the institution.

Speakers at the event expressed optimism that this digital transformation would help BMU evolve into a modern and smart medical institution, improving patient convenience and supporting the digital preservation of health records.

The Election Commission (EC) of Bangladesh has finalized the list of polling centers and rooms for the upcoming 13th national election and referendum scheduled for February 12. Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed announced the details at the EC headquarters in Agargaon, Dhaka, confirming that voting will take place at 42,766 centers nationwide, with 247,482 polling rooms. A total of 785,225 officials, including presiding, assistant presiding, and polling officers, will manage the process.

According to the EC, 42,779 presiding officers, 247,482 assistant presiding officers, and 494,964 polling officers have been appointed to ensure smooth voting. The total number of registered voters stands at 127,711,793, comprising 64,825,361 men, 62,885,200 women, and 1,232 transgender voters. The commission stated that all necessary preparations for the election and referendum are in their final stages.

The EC emphasized that adequate manpower has been deployed to conduct the nationwide vote efficiently, marking one of the largest electoral operations in the country’s history.

At least 30 people were injured in a clash between BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami supporters over seating arrangements at an election manifesto event in Sherpur-3 constituency (Sreebardi-Jhenaigati) on Wednesday afternoon. The incident occurred at the Jhenaigati Upazila mini stadium before the program officially began. Several motorcycles were also vandalized during the violence.

According to the local administration, the event was organized by the Jhenaigati Upazila administration to present election manifestos of competing candidates. The altercation began when some BNP and Jamaat supporters argued over front-row seats, escalating into a violent confrontation. Police and army personnel later arrived to bring the situation under control. Injured individuals were taken to the Upazila Health Complex and district hospital.

Jamaat candidate Nuruzzaman Badol accused BNP supporters of a premeditated attack, while BNP candidate Mahmudul Haque Rubel blamed Jamaat activists for inciting chaos. The Upazila Executive Officer Ashraful Alam Russell confirmed the incident and said higher authorities had been informed. Police reported that the situation was now normal and no case had yet been filed.

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman condemned reported assaults on women during election campaigning and warned that his party would not remain silent if such incidents continued. Speaking on Wednesday afternoon at a women’s rally organized by the 11-party electoral alliance at Monipur High School and College in Mirpur, Dhaka-15, he urged those responsible to repent and vowed to defend women’s honor at any cost.

Dr. Rahman, also a candidate for Dhaka-15, emphasized that women have the right to participate in election campaigns alongside men. He outlined his vision for a society built on maternal respect and compassion, promising safe transport for women, workplace daycare and breastfeeding facilities, and reduced working hours for mothers. He said these measures would apply to women of all religions.

Calling for a “yes” vote in the February 12 referendum, Rahman linked the outcome to justice and national sovereignty. He urged support for the party’s balance-scale symbol, portraying it as a stand for fairness and humanity across all communities.